Characterized by a show or pretence of piety or holiness; sanctimonious, hypocritical. Now archaic and rare.

= Pharisaic, adj. 1.

Proverbial phrases and locutions. In comparisons: as holy (also as sick, as strong) as a horse; to eat (also work) like a horse. a horse of another (a…

= hypocritical, adj.

= hypocritical, adj.

Of actions: Of the nature of, characterized by, hypocrisy. Of persons: Addicted to hypocrisy, having the character of hypocrites.

(cf. as holy as a horse at sense 25a).

Affecting holiness; sanctimonious.

= Pharisaic, adj.

Of pretended or assumed sanctity or piety, making a show of sanctity, affecting the appearance of sanctity.

Strict in matters of doctrine and ritual observance but lacking in charity or inner devotion; formalistic; laying great stress on external observance…

Given to using religious or pietistic language formally or affectedly; hypocritical; of, or belonging to, such phrases or pretensions.

Characterized by spiritual unction (in later use esp. of an assumed or superficial nature); complacently agreeable or self-satisfied. Of persons.

= pietistic, adj.

Pietistic.

Ostentatiously behaving in a correct or virtuous manner, typically so as to please people in positions of authority; smug and sanctimonious about the…

Affectedly or self-consciously careful to conform to conventional standards of moral conduct or good manners; characterized by or expressing weak…

Frequently with hyphen. That resembles or is suggestive of the teaching, activities, or qualities of a Sunday school; moral, esp. in a prim…

Resembling a Pecksniff; hypocritical.

= goody, adj. 2.

= goody-goody, adj.

Extremely devout or sanctimonious; overzealous. Cf. devil dodger, n. 1.

Pious.

Of or relating to pietists or pietism, esp. Lutheran Pietism; characterized by pietism; excessively pious. Also in extended use.

Pious, devout; sanctimonious.

Excessively or affectedly pious; pietistic.

Comparative holier in colloquial phrase holier-than-thou: characterized by an attitude of superior sanctity. Cf. Isaiah 65:5.

transf. Applied attrib. to that which is typical of the period (chiefly the 19th cent.) when antimacassars were in general use.

Used trivially. with unfavourable implication of piety or sanctimoniousness (colloquial).